This column started in April, so it's a less than a year old. However, 2012 gave me plenty of people who set themselves up to be criticized. It was a fun 8 months, despite the fact that I've been battling a monstrous illness the entire time I've had this blog.
Still, I've done guest radio spots for The Score, CBS radio Cleveland and ESPN Honolulu- all while in a hospital bed hooked up to an IV pole. Things have gotten much better on that front, and continue to get better every day. So hopefully in 2013, I can spend less time in clinic and more time on my work.
And I can do more of these. Because the critical columns are fun, and often make new friends, especially among the rival media outlets of those who you just ripped. Or at least it gets you more Twitter followers and Facebook friends among the media in general. But of course, it makes enemies too. A lot of enemies.
So without further ado, here were the ten best...

Yesterday, the nation’s #1 recruit Chicago’s very own Jabari Parker of Neil F. Simeon Career Academy picked the DukeBlue Devils as his college basketball choice. Over Michigan State, and a host of other schools. And people on Twitter lost their minds over it; very much disapproving of Parker’s choice.
But there’s still a season to be played for Jabari Parker and the Simeon Wolverines. There’s a fourth state title and possibly a national title to be won, and Jabari Parker takes you inside the school to show you what it’s all about.
Jabari Parker highlights the winning tradition at Simeon, which includes Chicago Bulls franchise cornerstone Derrick Rose. Simeon is also a pipeline to the Illinois Fighting Illini. And future Illini Kendrick Nunn appears in the video along with another Parker teammate Kendall Pollard...

Need somewhere to go this winter once the holiday parties are over? Or something to watch as football season winds down?
Some of the biggest chicago sports legends and current stars will be honored at the 25thAnnual Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards benefiting the March of Dimes. The silver anniversary reception, dinner & ceremony will be held on Thursday, January 24th, 2013 from 5:00-9:00 PM CT at the Hilton Chicago & Towers, 720 S. Michigan Avenue. Over the past 24 years, the Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards has raised close to $9 million for the March of Dimes...

How much Chicago Bears coverage is enough? Everyone in the media, including myself, is guilty of ridiculous over-coverage of the team. But 670 The Score is by far the worst offender. And a major reason they do it is to promote their sister station, WBBM, which broadcasts the team’s games on the radio.
Obviously, this is a Bears town first. Whether the team is winning or losing. The Cubs are 1b. to their 1a. when they’re in the playoffs. And Michael Jordan borrowed the city for a decade, making the Bulls come first during the ’90s. (It even helped me remember the difference between bear market and bull market, who was up in the ’90s and who was down?) The Bulls come third, and then there’s a drop off to the White Sox and Blackhawks.
So I understand how much the Bears move the needle, and the media must follow suit...

Brian Urlacher had an interesting view of the Chicago Bears loss to the Green BayPackers yesterday. His view from IR was quite opinionated. Maybe this is the end of his days with the Bears? Or the end of his NFL career? During his weekly appearance on the local Chicago FOX news program he had some choice words for Bears fans, the media and those who think Bears coach Lovie Smith should be fired...

You listen to Tim McCarver, Skip Bayless, or even worse yet, Jemele Hill and it makes you wonder “how does this person have a job?” Not only do they have a broadcasting gig, but it’s one with a very large footprint. There is no justice in the world.
The Big Ten Network version of that is Tim Doyle. Like Dick Vitale, he ruins every game he calls. He’s so bad that he makes CBS 2′s Ryan Baker look good by comparison. And that’s really hard to do because Baker pulls off the impossible combination of being both bland/boring and annoying/irritating at the same time.
Remember this is a criticism of Tim Doyle the broadcaster, not Tim Doyle the person. I don't know Doyle personally, he could be a great guy for all I know. However, his work I cannot know, and his work I cannot stand. So, let's be civil and remember there's no need for fist-fights.
In Doyle's exact own words “The business that we are in, sometimes we have to be hard on people or give our opinions.”
Update: Doyle discussed the altercation on 670 The Score Friday morning, and his spot is a MUST LISTEN....

Remember after 9/11 when then President George W. Bush proclaimed “you’re either with us, or with the terrorists” to the entire world? Well the NFL version of that came today after the Green BayPackers beat the Chicago Bears and put the Bears in serious jeopardy of making the playoffs. Bears safety Chris Conte turned on his own fans by tweeting the following: ...

It was an extremely eventful year for Chicago sportscasters. Jim Deshaies replaced Bob Brenly in the booth for Cubs broadcasts after Brenly left to take the Arizona Diamondbacks job.
Sarah Kustok left Comcast Sports Net Chicago for Yes Network. She was replaced by Susanna Collins. White Sox colorman Hawk Harrelson continued to be an intolerable abomination to broadcasting.
What follows is a list of 5 memorable moments that involved all these tv personalities...

Fresh Chicago News

Meet The Blogger

Paul M. Banks

Fulbright scholar in media studies, MBA, small media business owner, Published author, Founder of The Sports Bank.net, a Fox Sports affiliate
Member: Society of Professional Journalists, Football Writers Association of America, U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
Former political writer for Washington Times.com, NBC Chicago.com and numerous business journals
Credentialed for: United Nations, Rose Bowl, BCS National Championship, Final Four, Stanley Cup Finals, and NBA Playoffs.
Been featured on: Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports Live, The History Channel, CBS and ESPN radio. Does weekly segments for NBC and Fox Sports Radio stations across the nation.